KEEPING IN TOUCH STINAPA is...... the non-profit foundation that manages the Bonaire Visiting boaters may use VHF CH.77 as a hailing channel National Marine Park and the Washington Slagbaai National and then switch to either 71 or 88A for conversing. Park on behalf of the island government of Bonaire. All other channels are assigned to specific users. lt is dedicated to the conservation of Bonaire’s natural and historical heritage through the sustainable use of its resources. DON’T THROW IT – STOW IT ! Bonaire National Marine Park Help us protect our coral reefs The marine park extends from the high-water-mark to International law (MARPOL) prohibits the discharge the 60 meter (200 feet) depth contour, encompassing the of any type of garbage – including food - into the sea entire coast of Bonaire including Klein Bonaire and Lac. within 3 miles of land. Help us protect our reefs and Boating The marine park’s area of 2,700 hectares (6,700 acres) is marine life by being particularly careful with plastics home to important and endangered species such as sea and other non-biodegradable items. turtles, conch, and sharks as well as globally threatened NO ANCHORING ecosystems such as , sea grass, and mangroves. • If it goes overboard - go get it. • Retrieve any floating garbage you see. • Take your garbage shore side. Containers are available at Washington Slagbaai National Park Bonaire’s terrestrial park is a 5,643-hectare (14,000 acres) USE OF PUBLIC (YELLOW) BUOYS the Harbour Village Marina and the Plaza Resort Marina. nature sanctuary locatedz in the northwest part of the Do not dispose of garbage elsewhere; all green bins are DON’T THROW IT - STOW IT! island. lt provides safe habitat for many important flora privately owned. and fauna of Bonaire. Parrots, flamingos, parakeets, • Spent oil may be disposed of in a special tank located iguanas and many other species of birds and reptiles can at the SELIBON recycling plant. Vessels with onboard be found in this sanctuary. The beaches inside the park holding tanks are encouraged to use them and dispose are a nesting ground for globally endangered sea turtles. of their waste periodically offshore at least 5 miles from the nearest land. • Please take batteries of all types back with you to your Nature and Environment Education Aimed at reaching all levels of the community, STINAPA home country for proper recycling or disposal. The less has developed a range of education and information garbage you leave behind, the better. Bonaire does not programs. Each year many school children participate in have recycling facilities for toxic products such as batteries. STINAPA’s educational programs. The more advanced

youth program, ‘STINAPA Junior Rangers’, focuses on THE MARINE PARK RANGERS gaining knowledge, understanding and a sense of ownership of Bonaire’s ecosystems while developing The Bonaire National Marine Park Rangers patrol leadership and critical thinking skills. the use of the waters surrounding Bonaire, Klein Bonaire and Lac in order to protect its marine life. They maintain more than 100 public moorings, con- CONTACT INFO duct extensive scientific research, monitor human and natural impact, enforce the Park’s laws and regulat- Phone : 599 717 8444 ions, provide information to all users and offer nature Fax : 599 717 7318 education in the local schools. Email : [email protected] Website : www.stinapa.org The Bonaire National Marine Park is recognized world- Facebook : bonaire.stinapa wide as an exemplary marine park for its efforts to Mailing address : PO Box 368, Bonaire, Dutch eliminate destructive fishing practices and discharge Headquarters : Barcadera z/n of polluted ballast water. It has successfully banned the use of anchors, spearfishing and the collecting of STINAPA BONAIRE IS A MEMBER OF THE NATURE ALLIANCE corals, shells and sand. DUTCH CARIBBEAN CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE SUPPORTED BY: BONAIRE NATIONAL NATURE MARINE PARK IS OUR LIVELIHOOD IT’S A MARINE PROTECTED AREA RULES OF THE ROAD REGULATIONS FOR Bonaire’s coral reefs are our most precious asset. • Always navigate on the seaside of the mooring buoys THE USE OF PUBLIC BUOYS The coastlines of Bonaire, Lac and Klein Bonaire have in the dark blue water. been designated as Marine Protected Areas. The Bonaire • Pass at least 50 m. (150 ft.) away from a boat tied to a (The buoys with the yellow or orange National Marine Park (BNMP) extends from the high buoy. markers) water mark to the 60 m. (200 ft. ) depth contour. • No craft longer than 4 m. (12 ft.) may transit through the Use of these moorings is free of charge To protect the marine environment, as well as to ensure mooring field. but please observe the following: safety at sea, all users are subject to the Marine Park rules • All vessels are prohibited to take off at full speed until • First come, first serve; the buoy and must pay an entrance fee known as the ‘Nature Fee’. they are in the dark blue water. cannot be reserved. • Kite surfing and jet skiing is forbidden on the waters These are once yearly charges of U.S. $25 for SCUBA divers • Boats longer than 15 m. (45 ft) may of Lac and in the light blue shallow zones. and U.S. $10 for other users. A $10 one-day pass for SCUBA not tie onto the buoy. • The International “rules of the road” for how to avoid divers is also available. Fees may be paid at dive operations, • Only one boat per buoy, or up to collision should be adhered to in the waters of the activity centers, and at the headquarters of the BNMP at three small boats of 4 m. (12 ft). Bonaire National Marine Park. Barcadera. • Time limit on these buoys is a maximum of 2 hours. WATCH OUT AS YOU GO • No boat is allowed to overnight Buy your tag before on these buoys, including inside entering our Marine Park! • Be on the lookout for divers, snorkelers and swimmers Washington Slagbaai National Park. at all times. If you see bubbles or splashing, steer clear. • Sail boats with tall masts or fishing • If you need to approach a boat with divers, snorkelers boats with tall towers are not allowed or swimmers in the water, establish radio contact first. to tie on to the buoys along the NO ANCHORING • Watch out for fishermen, especially small fishing boats. landing strip of the airport (buoys The island is surrounded by continuous fringing reefs. They may not be able to maneuver quickly enough to number 36 and 37). Anchoring damages our fragile coral reefs and is prohibited get out of the way of sailboats or motorboats. Always • Always tie from the buoy. everywhere. Boats with a length of less than 4 m. (12 ft) are pass seaward, as local fishermen may be moored with • The tie-on line should not be shorter

permitted to anchor but may only use a stone anchor. a long line just under the surface. than 6 m. (18 ft). • Use navigation lights at night so others can see you. USE OF THE MOORING FIELD THE BONAIRE NATIONAL MARINE PARK The mooring field consists of 42 heavy- duty moorings for sail and motorboats The Bonaire National Marine Park extends from the located between12*09.44”N 68*17.09”W high water mark to the 60 m. (200 ft. ) depth contour, (South of Harbor Village Marina entrance) Overnight buoys encompassing the entire coast of Bonaire including Klein Bonaire and Lac. This is an area of about 2.700 and 12*09.06”N 68*16’.41”W (in front Maximum stay 2 hours of Karel’s Bar and dock). These moorings consist of 2 hectares, including coral reef, sea grass and mangroves. bi-colour buoys on 2 lines attached to cement blocks. As an International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) Maximum stay 2 hours These lines may not be tied directly to the boat bow, demonstration site, it is a model of its kind in the please use a tie-on line. Use of chains is prohibited. Caribbean, protecting and caring for the marine Only one boat with a maximum length of 18 m. (55 ft) environment, while maximizing safe levels for recrea- tion and commercial use. allowed. Harbour Village Marina manages the moorings FISHING and the payment of U.S. $ 10 per night must be made at Help us protect Bonaire’s marine environment the marina office. Contact the marina on Ch. 17 VHF or Spear fishing and the possession of phone 717-7419. Use of the moorings is at your own risk. • Do not damage the marine environment in any way. • Do not touch or remove anything including creatures, spear fishing equipment are strictly The Bonaire National Marine Park accepts no responsibility prohibited. If you have a spear gun, for any loss or damage. plants, shells and hard or soft corals, whether dead or alive, in the water or on land. please leave it with the Customs

• Do not harass dolphins. When a pod of dolphins is Office while you are on Bonaire. STAYING IN A MARINA spotted, do not travel towards it but rather stay away Bonaire has 2 all-weather marinas: Harbour Village Marina, from it and enjoy them from a distance. VHF Ch. 17 / phone (599) 717-7419 and Plaza Marina, VHF Ch. 18 / phone (599) 717-2500.